Establish Clear Deadlines
This is both an agency and client responsibility. The client should tell the agency when they expect the completed project. Agencies usually define the project under a specific scope. It includes a list of client and agency responsibilities. For example: photography, copywriting, design, and research. The agency should communicate to the client what materials and resources need to be gathered in order to meet the deadline.
Delayed Decisions Mean Delayed Deadlines
It is unrealistic to expect an agency to adhere to their proposed deadline if a client breaches the original scope or doesn’t provide feedback. This often occurs when clients can only communicate what they don’t want after seeing the results, rather than explaining what is expected before the project is underway.
Have One Decision Maker
Considering the ideas of others is appropriate, but only one person should have the final say. This makes it clear to the agency who they should receive direction from and who they should consult if questions arise.
Get the Most Out of Meetings
When clients counsel together to reach a general consensus prior to meeting with the agency, they are better prepared to communicate their desires. When clients are unified in their decisions, one representative can often represent the entire group. Because the client has determined what they want beforehand, correlation meetings with the agency are more effective. Exceptions occur during brainstorming sessions and consolations. In this case it may be appropriate to involve additional team members.
Following these tips will help you get the most out of your agency.